Joe Taylor performs at the Paramount, Huntington, NY

Replace the synth and hard-edged 80s guitar of Journey with pop/rock acoustic and electric backup and this sums up the essence of Joe Taylor. Which was appropriate, as Taylor opened for 80s heartthrob Rick Springfield Saturday night at the Paramount in Huntington, NY.

A Canadian indie rocker, Taylor’s connection to Journey is also evident in his voice; he’s this decade’s Steve Perry with his high-pitched gravelly sound. Playing in support of his new debut CD “Anything's Possible,” Taylor proves to be a soulful up-and-comer.

His compact set contained signature songs "Contagious" and "Possible", mid-tempo pop-coustic numbers not unlike what you'd hear on any Top 40 station today. Taylor’s powerful vocals on "All Around the World" seemed heavily influenced by Perry and did not go unnoticed by the mostly female crowd. Though he was the appetizer to Springfield’s main course, Taylor’s friendly demeanor (and beach-blonde locks) fed the crowd and got them solidly behind him by the end of the set.

There's plenty to like with Joe Taylor. But after listening to his CD and then hearing the numbers performed live, it’s evident the sound mixing needed tweaking, as the crucial backing vocals couldn't be heard. Which was a shame because Taylor’s voice benefits from big harmonies in the chorus. But the torqued-up crowd didn’t seem to notice and Taylor’s earnest vocals successfully warmed up the crowd (as did local Long Island band Walking Sideways) for Springfield’s pop frenzy.

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